The civil and military officials were lined up in formation, waiting in the square.

The commoners who had come to observe the ceremony stood on the high platform to the left, and although they were standing, an Array that restored energy was operating slowly, so there was no fear that anyone would be unable to endure.

On the right side of the square, another high platform had been constructed, but it stood empty and without an audience.

Only after the ministers had completed their ritual of worship could they ascend to "observe the ceremony." It was only then that aristocratic sons like Zhongxuan Sheng, whose official rank was not high enough to participate in "The Master’s Ceremony" yet were qualified to observe, were permitted to enter.

At that time, the center of the square would become the stage for those few young people.

Directly opposite the main entrance of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, cinnabar steps had been erected overnight, the place of supreme honor. It signified that the Emperor of Da Qi and the founding emperors would jointly admire the empire’s heroes.

The highest seats, the Dragon Throne and the Phoenix Seat, were naturally prepared well in advance, yet they remained conspicuously empty.

The Emperor of Da Qi, at this moment, was offering sacrifices in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Halfway up the cinnabar steps, they broadened into a platform where several tables and cases were arranged—the places reserved for the princes and princesses.

Descending further was another stretch of cinnabar steps, and then the square.

Jiang Wang had not paid attention to how complex the rituals of "The Master’s Ceremony" were or the high standards they demanded.

He sat in silence, eyes closed, conserving his spirit.

His posture upright, his breath long and steady.

This tranquility was not unique to him; everyone who could participate in the final contest for a spot lacked not this kind of resolve.

Even Xie Baoshu, who was tormented by his feelings for Wen Tinglan, clearly understood what mattered most.

To others, "The Master’s Ceremony" might just be a ritual observance.

But for them, the central figures, it could determine their entire lives.

The distance they could step out in this step would take many years to cover later on.

The top three in Qi Country within the same realm, and the very first of Qi Country, had a fundamental difference.

And only by seizing the title of Qi Country’s first could one qualify to compete for...

The first under heaven.

...

...

In the Imperial Ancestral Temple, at the shrine of the Martial Emperor.

Emperor Wu of Qi and Taizu were the only two emperors in Qi Country’s history who had the honor of individual temples in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Emperor Wu, who safeguarded the fate of Da Qi and established the dominant status of Qi Country with a hostage body and thirty thousand borrowed troops through thirty-seven battles, was also the emperor that the current Emperor Qi admired the most.

The Emperor of Da Qi watched quietly the Golden Body of the emperor before him, his face betraying neither joy nor anger.

It was Emperor Wu who had saved Da Qi and secured the dominant position for Qi Country. But it was he who truly completed the grand undertaking of Qi Country, competing for the strongest under heaven.

It seems that if he were to meet his end at this moment, the Imperial Ancestral Temple would deserve to have a temple for him too.

But was this enough?

"The nominations from the Political Affairs Hall have already been submitted," said the Emperor of Da Qi in an indifferent voice. "Tell me, should I allow an exception to be made?"

The only person who could accompany the Emperor in worshiping in the shrine of the Martial Emperor in the Imperial Ancestral Temple was naturally the Crown Prince of Da Qi, Jiang Wuhua, the Eastern Palace Crown Prince.

The other princes and princesses did not have such qualifications.

With a very plain face, Jiang Wuhua stood respectfully to one side, and in a well-mannered way, he replied, "The Imperial Father’s wise heart alone controls all; whatever decision you make surely has its reason."

Compared to the strikingly handsome Jiang Wuyou, the eerily beautiful Jiang Wuji, and the extraordinary Jiang Wuqi, this Crown Prince Jiang Wuhua was not particularly outstanding in appearance.

Like his answer just now, it was unremarkable yet impeccably correct.

Had Jiang Wuqi been present, at the very least he would have said, "The command of the Son of Heaven is the proper course; I’ve never heard of an incidental branch being named an imperial command."

But the Crown Prince had his advantages.

The Emperor of Da Qi gave no sign of agreement or disagreement, turned around, and stepped out.

A eunuch called out loudly, "The Emperor departs!"

Jiang Wuhua waited until the Emperor was nearly out the door before straightening up and following.

Respectful and meticulous, without a thread out of place.

How could the Political Affairs Hall not know that Da Qi still had its prodigies?

For instance, within the Inner Mansion Realm, how could there not be Wang Yiwu?

But military law is as immovable as mountains; since he had already been sentenced to the death camp for three years, there was no way he could return to Linzi. It was respect for military law that the Political Affairs Hall did not recommend this person.

And when talking about the first in the Inner Mansion, how could they overlook that esteemed figure, Zhongxuan Fenghua?

The phrase "surpassing all peers in grace," coined by Yu Beidou years ago, was known to everyone in Qi Country.

No one at the Political Affairs Hall had yet to mention it.

Because at that time, it was Emperor Wu of Qi who had personally ordered Zhongxuan Zun to enter seclusion at the Under Jixuegong.

This was the imperial authority of the Son of Heaven.

The Son of Heaven wields his power and fortune at will.

...

...

Jiang Wang did not know how much time had passed, he hadn’t tried to "hear" the sounds outside, nor had he felt the passage of time. He was simply quietly recuperating, cultivating as usual.

Then a guard approached and said, "Lord Jiang, please!"

Jiang Wang rose to his full height and replied warmly, "Thank you, lead the way."

Today, he was dressed in a clean, fitting blue military uniform, his long hair simply tied up, his person devoid of any superfluous adornments, save for a plain white jade pendant hanging from his waist.

Longing was held in his hand.

With head held high and spine straight, his steps were unhurried, poised.

His gaze held weight.

Jiang Wang remembered this phrase deeply, and later, he had personally witnessed Wang Ao shatter the gaze of the Blood King.

But it seemed that today, he truly felt the "weight" of a gaze.

Upon following the guiding guard and entering the massive square paved with white stone slabs, countless eyes on the square converged on him.

To his left upon the elevated platform were the commoners, and to his right were the nobles and officials; Zhongxuan Sheng, Yan Fu, and others were probably squeezed in there too. Jiang Wang didn’t look too closely.

Directly ahead at the highest point above the cinnabar steps sat Emperor Wu of Qi. At this moment, Jiang Wang couldn’t even lift his head to look there.

Presumably, Lord Huaying, Jiang Wuyou, would also be in that direction.

Countless gazes equated to countless pressures.

On the End of the World Platform, he had been watched by even more people, but back then he had been in no mood to care. Moreover, the weight represented by those people... was far less than today.

So it was only at this moment that he felt what it meant to be "the center of public scrutiny."

An interesting experience, indeed.

Jiang Wang had nothing to be nervous about.

With his sword in hand, he began to size up the "main characters" who had taken the stage around the same time as himself.

Observing one’s "rivals" was, of course, not discourteous.

There were only seven people standing on the entire vast square, arranged into three columns.

They appeared insignificant, yet radiated brilliance.

Jiang Wang was on the left column, which consisted of three people.

Standing at the frontmost position, closest to the cinnabar steps, was none other than Lei Zhanqian, an old acquaintance.

Jiang Wang’s focus, however, was on Cui Zhu.

This man stood at the very end of the column, closest to the direction of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

But not much could be discerned from his appearance; his face was stern, his gaze didn’t wander, standing like a standard lance, exuding a military bearing.

Jiang Wang, positioned between Lei Zhanqian and Cui Zhu, looked to his right, and the first person he saw was Ji Zhaonan.

This second disciple of the War God, who rarely appeared within Qi Country, stood alone in the middle of the square, without any counterpart, thus standing by himself.

Perfectly splitting the Outer Building from the Inner Mansion.

Before seeing him, one did not know who he was.

But after laying eyes on him, it felt only natural that he should be standing there!

Truly a remarkable figure!

Clad in silver armor and a white robe, he carried a pristine white spear in an inverted grip.

His long hair was pulled back away from his face, leaving a single lock hanging at the forehead, his eyes were like cold stars, his eyebrows sharp as frosty blades.

He bore a faint scent of bloodshed, a trace that could not be shed despite countless acts of killing.

Yet, he seemed untarnished by it all.

Zhongxuan Sheng had once introduced—

The name of his spear, Shaohua. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The name of his armor, Matchless.